Artist talk Saturday: Never one to stand still, Minneapolis’ own Jennifer Davis did a lightning-quick research trip last summer, hitting carnival museums in eight cities in eight days. Then she returned home and set to work turning out big, exuberant renditions of the fierce critters and antique vignettes she encountered. Davis shares her enthusiasm for carnival culture in “Joyride,” a show of beautifully conceived, smartly executed paintings of roaring lions, snarling tigers, wild horses and other circus beasties. She’ll talk about the project and her summer joyride at 1 p.m. Saturday. (Exhibit open 8 p.m.-midnight Fri.; noon-4 p.m. Sat.; 2-7 p.m. Thu. Ends April 25. Free. Public Functionary, 1400 12th Av. NE., Mpls. 612-238-9523 or www.publicfunctionary.org)